The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-04-09
CcURTsHlP IN MEXICO.
Tho Way in Which Lovers Are Compelled
to Woo the Fair SeuOTitas.

/
to Woo the Fair SeuOTitas.
Mexican ladies seldom go out with
out some one of the family or q SER
want. They do not have gentlemen
visitors There is no Chance for gal
liant youth to burn the midnight oil or
gas st his prospective father-in>law's
expense. If a young man has been
acquainted with a girl from childhood,
or by some accident is allowed to visit
the family and becomes n lover, he is
Immediately forbidden the house, and
must continue his counting as best he
can. 1t is then the balcony is of SER
vice. A signal is agreed upon, and the
senorita with ears alert hears it, and
appears upon the balcony and con-
verses with her lover below in the
street. Notes are secretly exchanged,
but never through the mail, To give
you an idea of Mexican courtship and
how Cupid breaks down the barriers
made by Ignorance and superstition,
will explain what is here termed 'play-
ing the bear" This is very popular
game-at least it seems so among the
Mexicans. 1t is played by two per-
sons, lady and a gentleman. Both
, are usually young-in their teens as it
were-though there are instances Of
the game being played by couples who
had passed that period by several
years.
A young man becomes smitten with
a fair charmer at the opera or at
church. He follows the lady to her
t home. Having that located, he makes
it his business to be in that neighbor-
hood as much as possible. He will
f stroll by the house with his eyes ex-
| pressive of the state of his heart, and if
/ he should catch glimpse of his fair
S one he is happy. If he receives smile
Y he becomes intoxicated with love and
n is ready to play the "bear" for an in
: definite period of time. If the lady is
e seated on the balcony when Romeo
Y arrives upon the scene she usually
o withdraws, after exchanging glances
Il with him. This programme is kept up
for months. At last he receives smile
Il from fair Juliet. From smiles they get
), to exchanging few words. There have
n been actual cases where the bear has
d frolicked about for year or two be-
d fore the tickle maid would exchange q
A word with him. Very often there are
: two or three bears casting longing eyes
Is in the same direction. This frequently
o causes bad blood. As soon as the cou-
d pie begin to know each others voices
e matters progress rapidly. After they
W arrive at an understanding the perse-
-e vering lover hastens to the padre. The
h kind priest finding that there is no rea-
10 son for objection on either side, pro-
o. ceeds to intercede with the girls pa
N rents and gain him admission to the
m domicile of his lady love. AS soon as
ut a young man enters the house he is
e. considered engaged to the daughter. A
wedding quickly follows, and there is
d, no more playing the bear so far, "a
that young man is concerned.
OF A great deal depends on the girl in
Mt this game. She can make it long or
m a short game. There has been a case
brought to my notice of young man
NJ who has never missed an evening for
n, nearly three years, and he is still only
to in the first stage of the game, posing or
he walking up and down in front of the
I'd senorita's home hoping to receive a
10 smile. Close observers say that, so far,
in she only condescends to let him see the
IL least bit of her white dress through the
at half-closed French windows that open
ey on the balcony. He was asked why he
ill played the bear so long when he met
with so little encouragement His re-
wv ply was:
DIS "Oh. Hove her so dearly! And she il
nut so rich!'' l passed by house a few
AL evenings since and saw lover stand
Sc. ing in the shadow of friendly door
he way. He had guitar. moved il
"a the shadow to see the by-play. As tn,
his soft notes broke the quetude of tn,
evening l saw a window open in
en- house adjoining and a senorita step on
P" on the balcony. The music continued
for few moments and then ceased
on l saw the fair one drop something owe
MT the balcony. The lover caught it an,
He retired into the shadow again. stroll
he ed up the street, crossed over, an,
ID, went toward them. saw he wa
lat holding something to his ear, and
EN- knew telephone communications wa
1 perfect between these two loving heart:
on There is no such thing as being in
troduced, even though he lover be &C
companied by relation. Should tn
parties meet on the promenade and tn
relative desires to speak with his fai
ate relative he excuses himself and join
her, leaving the lover out in the colo
res as it were, until he gains admittance I
her parents house through the int
ich cession of the priest. If while walkin
in tho Alameda or ZOpOlO no n1aats II